A month after it took over rail operations the Welsh Government backed Transport for Wales admits a quarter of rolling stock is out of service. They admit 36 our of 127 trains are undergoing repairs leading to delays and cancellations on routes and now they have taken out newspaper ads to apologise. Alfa Romeo has partnered with Amazon to deliver test drives of the brand’s first ever SUV, … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 October
The Wales and Borders rail service can be the best passenger rail service in the UK within the next 15 years. This is the message from First Minister, Carwyn Jones who will be on Pontypridd station today to mark the first full day of the new Wales and Borders rail services led by Transport for Wales with a £5 Billion budget to improve rolling stock, stations, information and passenger services, … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 October
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford will today bring business leaders in Wales up to speed on the Metro service, before the franchise change in a week’s time. He will tell them Metro will deliver against a range of policy objectives by creating a network that will serve communities, accessible to all and operating seven days a week with fare cuts on some routes, more services and newer trains, … [Read more...]
Behind the scenes of Metrolink
Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates has been to Manchester to meet the operator delivering the new rail services contract in Wales and the borders from October. Transport Secretary Ken Skates and Kevin Thomas, Chief Executive of Transport for Wales Rail Services met Aline Frantzen, Managing Director of Metrolink to go behind the scenes and experience the day to day running of the … [Read more...]
Newslines extra 12 September
Wales Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe has questioned spending £1.4 Billion on the planned M4 relief road around Newport, including a new bridge over the Usk, remodelling the docks and building on grazing land. It will not cut congestion and is a "20th Century solution to a 21st Century problem”, said Ms Howe and suggested money would be better spent on rail and bus links, cycle … [Read more...]
Newslines 31 July
Britain’s first full-sized driverless bus is being developed by Stagecoach. It’s partnered with bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited and technology company Fusion Processing to produce a 12m single deck autonomous bus with trials planned in a depot and including technology which can be utilised when it goes onto the streets with a driver as it would need under present legislation. About … [Read more...]
Boost rail investment, Welsh Government tell UK Goverment
Transport Secretary Ken Skates has cited slow speeds, manual Victorian signalling and level crossings bringing traffic to a standstill up to 200 times a day in his call on the UK Government to make available an equitable level of funding for rail infrastructure enhancements in Wales. In May, Ken Skates announced Cardiff University’s Professor Mark Barry would lead on the case for investment in … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 June
Car breakdowns are expected to escalate to one every four seconds during the hot spell. Green Flag is urging drivers to examine their vehicles before embarking on their travels, as it predicts that up to 86,000 car breakdowns will occur before Sunday. Transport for Wales, the not-for-profit company wholly owned by the Welsh Government responsible for driving forward the Welsh Government’s … [Read more...]
Taffs Well to become Metro trains hub
A new state of the art train depot will open in Taffs Well as part of plans for the South Wales Metro, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has announced. The Welsh Government will invest nearly £100m in the new Transport for Wales depot which will house and service 36 of the new Metro vehicles operating on the Taff Vale lines. The depot will also become the base for 400 train crew, 35 Metro vehicle … [Read more...]
£5 Billion for Welsh rail services & passengers
About 600 staff will be recruited and 450 apprenticeships offered with a new 15-year £5 Billion investment in rail services by Welsh Government. The Wales and Borders services along with the proposed South Wales Metro regional service will be contracted to KeolisAmey, who run London Docklands and Manchester Metro, in partnership with stand alone not-for-profit company … [Read more...]